by W. W. Jacobs
offered to takeyour old cat to make up for it, if you was tired of keeping it.
”It was very 'ard on Henery Walker, I must say that. Other people wasgetting the credit of bringing up 'is kittens, and more than that, theyused to ask Mr. Bunnett into their places to see 'ow the little dears wasa-getting on.
”Kindness to animals caused more unpleasantness in Claybury than anything'ad ever done afore. There was hardly a man as 'ud speak civil to eachother, and the wimmen was a'most as bad. Cats and dogs and such-likebegan to act as if the place belonged to 'em, and seven people stoppedMr. Bunnett one day to tell 'im that Joe Parsons 'ad been putting downrat-poison and killed five little baby rats and their mother.
”It was some time afore anybody knew that Bob Pretty 'ad got 'is eye onthat gold watch, and when they did they could 'ardly believe it. Theygive Bob credit for too much sense to waste time over wot they knew 'ecouldn't get, but arter they 'ad heard one or two things they gotalarmed, and pretty near the whole village went up to see Mr. Bunnett andtell 'im about Bob's true character. Mr. Bunnett couldn't believe 'em atfast, but arter they 'ad told 'im of Bob's poaching and the artful waysand tricks he 'ad of getting money as didn't belong to 'im 'e began tothink different. He spoke to parson about 'im, and arter that 'e said henever wanted for to see Bob Pretty's face again.
”There was a fine to-do about it up at this 'ere Cauliflower public-'ousethat night, and the quietest man 'o the whole lot was Bob Pretty. He satstill all the time drinking 'is beer and smiling at 'em and giving 'emgood advice 'ow to get that gold watch.
”'It's no good to me,' he ses, shaking his 'ead. 'I'm a pore labourin'man, and I know my place.'
”'Ow you could ever 'ave thought you 'ad a chance, Bob, I don't know,'ses Henery Walker.
”'Ow's the toad, Bob?' ses Bill Chambers; and then they all laughed.
”'Laugh away, mates,' ses Bob; 'I know you don't mean it. The on'y thingI'm sorry for is you can't all 'ave the gold watch, and I'm sure you'veworked 'ard enough for it; keeping Henery Walker's kittens for 'im, andhanging round Mr. Bunnett's.'
”'We've all got a better chance than wot you 'ave, Bob,' ses little DickyWeed the tailor.
”The quietest man o' the whole lot was Bob Pretty”
”'Ah, that's your iggernerance, Dicky,' ses Bob. 'Come to think it overquiet like, I'm afraid I shall win it arter all. Cos why? Cos Ideserves it.'
”They all laughed agin, and Bill Chambers laughed so 'arty that 'ejoggled Peter Gubbins's arm and upset 'is beer.
”'Laugh away,' ses Bob, pretending to get savage. 'Them that laughs bestlaughs last, mind. I'll 'ave that watch now, just to spite you all.'
”'Ow are you going to get it, Bob?' ses Sam Jones, jeering.
”'Never you mind, mate,' ses Bob, stamping 'is foot; 'I'm going to win itfair. I'm going to 'ave it for kindness to pore dumb animals.'
”Ear! 'ear!' ses Dicky Weed, winking at the others. 'Will you 'ave a beton it, Bob?'
”'No,' ses Bob Pretty; 'I don't want to win no man's money. I like toearn my money in the sweat o' my brow.'
”'But you won't win it, Bob,' ses Dicky, grinning. 'Look 'ere! I'll layyou a level bob you don't get it.'
”Bob shook his 'ead, and started talking to Bill Chambers about somethingelse.
”'I'll bet you two bob to one, Bob,' ses Dicky. 'Well, three to one,then.'
”Bob sat up and looked at'im for a long time, considering, and at last heses, 'All right,' he ses, 'if Smith the landlord will mind the money Iwill.'
”He 'anded over his shilling,' but very slow-like, and Dicky Weed 'andedover 'is money. Arter that Bob sat looking disagreeable like, especiallywhen. Dicky said wot 'e was goin' to do with the money, and by an by SamJones dared 'im to 'ave the same bet with 'im in sixpences.
”Bob Pretty 'ad a pint more beer to think it over, and arter BillChambers 'ad stood 'im another, he said 'e would. He seemed a bit dazedlike, and by the time he went 'ome he 'ad made bets with thirteen of 'em.Being Saturday night they 'ad all got money on 'em, and, as for Bob, healways 'ad some. Smith took care of the money and wrote it all up on aslate.
”'Why don't you 'ave a bit on, Mr. Smith?' ses Dicky.
”'Oh, I dunno,' ses Smith, wiping down the bar with a wet cloth.
”'It's the chance of a lifetime,' ses Dicky.
”'Looks like it,' ses Smith, coughing.
”'But 'e can't win,' ses Sam Jones, looking a bit upset. 'Why, Mr.Bunnett said 'e ought to be locked up.'
”'He's been led away,' ses Bob Pretty, shaking his 'ead. 'He's a kind-'arted old gen'leman when 'e's left alone, and he'll soon see wot amistake 'e's made about me. I'll show 'im. But I wish it was somethingmore useful than a gold watch.'
”'You ain't got it yet,' ses Bill Chambers.
”'No, mate,' ses Bob.
”'And you stand to lose a sight o' money,' ses Sam Jones. 'If you like,Bob Pretty, you can 'ave your bet back with me.'
”'Never mind, Sam,' ses Bob; 'I won't take no advantage of you. If Ilose you'll 'ave sixpence to buy a rabbit-hutch with. Good-night, matesall.'
”He rumpled Bill Chambers's 'air for 'im as he passed--a thing Bill nevercan a-bear--and gave Henery Walker, wot was drinking beer, a smack on theback wot nearly ruined 'im for life.
”Some of 'em went and told Mr. Bunnett some more thingsabout Bob next day”]
”Some of 'em went and told Mr. Bunnett some more things about Bob nextday, but they might as well ha' saved their breath. The old gen'lemansaid be knew all about 'im and he never wanted to 'ear his name mentionedagin. Arter which they began for to 'ave a more cheerful way of lookingat things; and Sam Jones said 'e was going to 'ave a hole bored through'is sixpence and wear it round 'is neck to aggravate Bob Pretty with.
”For the next three or four weeks Bob Pretty seemed to keep very quiet,and we all began to think as 'ow he 'ad made a mistake for once.Everybody else was trying their 'ardest for the watch, and all Bob donewas to make a laugh of 'em and to say he believed it was on'y made ofbrass arter all. Then one arternoon, just a few days afore Mr. Bunnett'stime was up at the farm, Bob took 'is dog out for a walk, and arterwatching the farm for some time met the old gen'leman by accident up atCoe's plantation.
”'Good arternoon, sir,' he ses, smiling at 'im. 'Wot wunnerful fineweather we're a-having for the time o' year. I've just brought Josephout for a bit of a walk. He ain't been wot I might call hisself for thelast day or two, and I thought a little fresh air might do 'im good.'
”Mr. Bunnett just looked at him, and then 'e passed 'im by without aword.
”'I wanted to ask your advice about 'im,' ses Bob, turning round andfollering of 'im. 'He's a delikit animal, and sometimes I wonder whetherI 'aven't been a-pampering of 'im too much.'
”'Go away,' ses Mr. Bunnett; 'I've'eard all about you. Go away at once.'
”'Heard all about me?' ses Bob Pretty, looking puzzled. 'Well, you can't'ave heard no 'arm, that's one comfort.'
”'I've been told your true character,' ses the old gen'leman, very firm.'And I'm ashamed that I should have let myself be deceived by you. Ihope you'll try and do better while there is still time.'
”'If anybody 'as got anything to say agin my character,' says Bob, 'Iwish as they'd say it to my face. I'm a pore, hard-working man, and mycharacter's all I've got.'
”'You're poorer than you thought you was then,' says Mr. Bunnett. 'Iwish you good arternoon.'
”'Good arternoon, sir,' ses Bob, very humble. 'I'm afraid some on 'em'ave been telling lies about me, and I didn't think I'd got a enemy inthe world. Come on, Joseph. Come on, old pal. We ain't wanted here.'
”He shook 'is 'ead with sorrow, and made a little sucking noise between'is teeth,
and afore you could wink, his dog 'ad laid hold of the oldgen'leman's leg and kep' quiet waiting orders.
”'Help!' screams Mr. Bunnett. 'Call, 'im off! Call 'im off!'
”Bob said arterwards that 'e was foolish enough to lose 'is presence o'mind for a moment, and instead o' doing anything he stood there gapingwith 'is mouth open.
”'Call 'im off!' screams Mr. Bunnett, trying to push the dog away. 'Whydon't you call him off?'
”'Don't move,' ses Bob Pretty in a frightened voice. 'Don't move,wotever you do.'
”'Call him off! Take 'im away!' ses Mr. Bunnett.
”'Why, Joseph! Joseph! Wotever are you a-thinking of?' ses Bob, shaking'is 'ead at the dog. 'I'm surprised at you! Don't you know Mr. Bunnettwot is so fond of animals?'
”'If you don't call 'im off, ses Mr. Bunnett, trembling all over, 'I'llhave you locked up.'
”'I am a-calling 'im off,' ses Bob, looking very puzzled. 'Didn't you'ear me? It's you making that noise that excites 'im, I think. P'r'apsif you keep quiet he'll leave go. Come off, Joseph, old boy, there's agood doggie. That ain't a bone.'
”'It's no good talking to 'im like that,' ses Mr. Bunnett, keeping quietbut trembling worse than ever. 'Make him let go.'
”'I don't want to 'urt his feelings,' ses Bob; 'they've got theirfeelings the same as wot we 'ave. Besides, p'r'aps it ain't 'is fault--p'r'aps he's gone mad.'
”'HELP!' ses the old gen'leman,